Bike mechanic keeps shop small, but efficient

Compact business on Queen works fine for MetroCycleTO and owner’s repair service

Most business owners seek “a room of one’s own.” For Gordon Robb, it’s a 10”-by-12” room — enclosed in drywall he put up himself — in a shared space on Queen St. W. “It’s a bandaid solution for what I want,” says Robb of his business MetroCycleTO. But it’s good enough for now.

Robb’s business dates back to 2012, when he began fixing bikes in the basement of his home in Parkdale and offering a mobile repair service. Instead of expanding into an expected storefront — with the sky-high rents in the area, plus the need for stock and staff and riding out the winter months, when bike shops get almost no business — he found this space in 1266 Queen St. W. studios (near Dufferin).

On Saturdays, the studios host the Parkdale Flea and customers can easily come in and bring their bikes down to Robb’s shop. The rest of the week, by-appointment clients have to ring his cell and he’ll come up and get them. (Next project: installing a doorbell.)

Robb still gets in his car and travels to clients — mainly well-heeled customers in the suburbs, where bike shops are few and far between. The mobile service makes up just 10 per cent of his business during the spring rush. By summer, it’ll make up as much as 40 per cent of his work.

Robb learned how to fix bikes by getting his hands greasy. At age 10, he set up something of a small business, fixing bikes for neighbours and friends at the Bowmanville home where he grew up. As an adult, he did a bike ride across Canada by himself. “You learn about your bike very quickly,” he recalls of that trip.

Robb completed the mechanical engineering technician program at Sheridan College and has worked in that field on and off. He’s also done a range of jobs, including teaching scuba lessons and, of course, bike repair.

Convinced that his best approach professionally would be to follow his passion, not just get a solid paycheque, he started MetroCycleTO three years ago. His work has garnered him praise — including a best bike mechanic nod from Now magazine in 2014.

Besides technical proficiency, Robb focuses on customer service: He does careful intake to be sure customers know exactly what repairs they need, and gives a precise quote on the spot. If the final repair is going to be more than the quote, even by $10, he calls. Keeping customers happy and building up a client list will one day, probably, lead to a larger shop at ground level.

For now, Robb’s content to work on gears, spokes and tires in his current, compact location.